Driving mechanism for self-propelled bodies.



F. w. Donn. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SELF PROPEL'LED BOEIES,

APPLICATION FILD MAR. 21| |913.

Pitemed 1666261917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. w, Dunn. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SELF PROPELLE') BONES,

APPLICATIUN FILED MARy 21. i913.

lzltented Feb. 20,` 1917.

livomfor: M www Wim.'

@M MZ? Driving `ltffechanism I heated FRNK W. DODD, 0F BROOKLYN, NIW-YBK.

DRIVING MEOHANISM FOR SELF-PRPEQLED BDIES.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 191i?.

Application filed March 21, 1913. Serial Ni l. 755,905.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK W. Donn, a.

subject of the Crown of Great Britain, and

resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the city and lState of NenT York, have invented a new and useful .Improvement in for Selflropelled Bodies, of which the following is a specification.,

This invention consists in a novel driving mechanism for self-propelled bodies and is particularly well adapted for use in connection with automobile torpedoes.

Que object of this invention` is to attain greater economy and elirienoy in the conversion of motive power into useful 4work in driving mechanisms which have lieretofore suffered from various disadvantages and powerv losses when lput into actual practice,- as will be hereinafter tui-ther pointed y out.

.A further object is to avoid the compli-v cation, liability to break down and excessive Weight of a'driviiig mechanism includn ing" reciprocating engines or to obviatethe i ineiiiciency and inconvenient high speed in-A cidental to the use of turbine engines utiliz- V ing an elastic or gaseousfiuid as their motive This invention is more particularly di# rected to that class of driving' mechanismiin which a heated fluid, such vas compressed air, is utilized for drivingan engine. finch fluid' has heretofore been used in driving reciprocating enginesinwhich the expansion of the `iuid was utilized and for driving the turbine engines in which the" velocity, reaction and expansion of the fluid was utilized. I

Wlen such systems were employed for thegprol'iulsion of bodies such, tor example, as automobile torpedoes, the propeller shaft could be driven directly from the reciprocating engine but the teiiiperaturc of the fluid could not exceed a certain maximum degree which ivas comparatively low liecause of the overheating of the parts.

In the case ol the turbine engine, a reducing gear was generally found necessary and while higher teii'iperatures could be 'used than in the case ot the reciprocating `engine, still the maximum degree of heat permissiblel was still far belouf the degree which is desirable theoretically forthe best results.

Moreover', the speed of the turbine engine although comparatively high could not, for practical reasons, be sucl'ijas to enable the greatest possible eiliciency to be obtained even when ccmplicated speed reducing gearing between :he turbine engine and the propeller shaft 'vas employed. v

In this present invention the heated or hot pressure fluid., which' may .be compressed air, is not admitted directly to the engine but is first caused to act upon a suitable liquid such as water for forcing the water through the engine.` l

One embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanyingr drawings, in ivliich Figure lV represents in longitudinal eentrall section so much of an automobile toi'- pcdo as ivill givea` clear understanding of my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line A-A otFig. 1.

The torpe lo'shell is denoted by 1. The reservoir foi 'the pressure Huid, in the present instance compressed air,`is denoted by A2.The engine is denoted by 3, which engine, inthe present instance,v is shown as a liquid driveirturbine engine.

The prop :ller shafts, driven by the en-y gine, are di noted by 4, which shafts sur--` round-a holl uw sleeve 5 which is herein used as an axialljy arranged exhaust conduit.

The liqui( fuel reservoir is denoted by 6; the combustion tank or superhcater by 7;. the starting valve by .8; and the pressure. reducing valve by 9. i i

`A pipe lfleads from the compressed air reservoir 21o the starting valve 8. A. pipe 1.1 leads from the starting valve 8 to the pressure reducing -valve S) and a pipe"12 leads from ih'e reducing valve il to tlioco'mbustioii tali f 7.

A pipe 15 leads from the liquid fuel reservoir (l to the combustion tank 7. The

igniter for the "cori'iliiis'tioii tank is denoted by i4. l-Va er is supplied in relatively small y quantities to the combustion tank 7 from a water tank. not shown` through a pipe 1-5.

A coiitai` er is provided, which container is arranged to receive a liquid, such as water, from a liquid supply and to also receive a Lcharge of l'ressure Huid from the combustion tank J whereby the liquid is forced from the ta iik through the engine.

In 'the pi eseiit insta-neel have shown six of these cor tainersl arranged in two-rows of three each. The admission and exhaust of the pressure fluid andthe admission and discharge of the liquid muy be controlled by any suitable valve mechanisml ln the present instance I have shown a ro` tary valve 17 for controlling the admission and exhaust;A of the pressure'lu'id and a. ro

tar valve 18 for controlling the admission an discharge of the liquid, which valves are driven from the engine to operate at the' proper times through the following mechanism: A vertically arranged shaft 19 has a worm and gear connection 20, 21, with the;y

' stem 22 of the valve 17 and a worm and gear connection 23, 24,'with the stem 25 of the valve 18. shaft 19 has a geared con nection 26, 27, with a sha-ft28, which shaft 2S has a geared connection 29., 30, withthe engine 3.

The chest for the valve 17 is denoted by 31 and the chest for the valve 18 is denoted communication with the interior of the combustion. tank 7 through a pipe 33 and the said valve 17 is provided with a series 'ofin1 let ports 34 arranged to be successively brought into communication with the inlet pipes 35 of the liquid containers 16 by the rotary'movement of the said valve 17.

The valve segments -36 through which the ports 34 extend are so arranged that at the proper' intervals the interiors of the containian; ,are-binarie; of the valve' 18 through." n'

ers are brought into open ,communication with the space 37 between, the 'valve and the/ valve-chest for exhausting the pressure -fluid `successively from the said containers after 'the pressure fluid' has'vforced the water from 'pipefio The inlet mouth of this pipe 40' is arranged osition to receive the water from acentrifugal pump 10* mounted on the- -axisj 0f"they-engine 3. This pump as.- 'h Proper Mid rapid supply of ,water [pipe 40 for the-j reason that lthe increasesfto'a material degree the water-pressurefdue to the speed ofA the torpedollthrough the'body of water,-t1ie Water Mentoring' the; power chamber v(the chamber' 'containing Athe motive power installation) forexample through the opening 40*. This :valve 18 is provided-with a series of portsJ 41 arranged'to be-brought successively into4 T communicationwith the liquid pipes 42 I leadingjto; the zcontainer-s' 16. -The segmentsV 143 throught-which lthe ports .41 jlead are so fdesignedfth'atthe water will be dischargedf yreser'yoir kept at; continuous pressure forv 130 l' The interior of the valve 17 vis in openV atproper intervals from thetanks 16,by the f pressure vof the pressure fluid` into the space' '44 between the valve 18 and the chest 82 and from thence out through a suitable nozzle I15into engagement with th engine 3.

'When this invention is ,Sed in, connection with automobile torpedoes the forward movement of the same will;l cause the con the interior of the valve 1 Each of the tanks 16 may be provided with a float valve 46 for autlomatically closing the pipe 4:2 to prevent the escape of pres sure Huid therethrough.' his valve also tainers to be filled with wagelrwhen open to prevents the churning up ofthe liquid when the pressure fiuidv is first admitted into the sion of the lwater from the nozzle and thus 'secure a perfectly unlform and steady torque from the engine.

By the'use of my invent-ion it will be seen that the engine may be driven at a. comparatively low speed with a high percentage of efii'ciency and the speed may be so low that it will be possible in many instances to connect the engine dirhctly to the driving Wheel or propeller and "thus dispense with speed reducing gearing;

It will also' bel seen that another advantageous result .is accomplished-in that thehigher temperatureA fluid does not come into contact Withthe engine andit is thereforev "valve mechanfsm for successfullvjcontrolling the admissionA undexhanst of the pressureiiuidand the' vaailniiuiion land 'discharge of the liquid, Still it -i'syto be understood that Ifdo not wish to confine myselfl to such jarticlilar 'valvel mechanism but contemp ate the use ofany mechanism suitable for carrying out 'theginventiom the'- mechanism shown .mechanisms which4 coul 'and described' being .onlgfbfgie ofdlfario'us p rea 1 y ein j ployed-H WhatI claim isaff l1. An automobile torpedo and a f mechanism therefor comprising anl'engne arrangedfto be vdriven by the Water in which` 'the torpedo is immersed; oron` which `it lioatfs,A vandiluid pressure;meansfoperateddby;

expansion of 'gas' derived. from 'a source .or

angine heini; whiiuaterl inin lim surrinunlin muur in :i i'eiirrvzufiil dirertinn,

3. An. uumn'ioliile tnriiiiln n'uxclniniszn tl'ierefijir Cmnpriuing un enLvl n iifumtuiilw :irrmigml tu m mitm in which the torpedo is iinn'lersnl. or un *w-hiilii it limits, und prrssurn fluid nieuwe; h r uxpu'uuiun nf gans ilsrii'rd 'frun'i :i iiource' ur reservoir kunt :it mntinunnfi presumir-.i fuir 'furiringr thu unter from the iu'mtziintu." thriiug'h th@ euginin ihr mitm.' militer passing through the Origine heling?" uxl'nnrsted i'ultn th@ su'rruumliug intuiin :i rmwwiirii dii-action,

l. An automobile iori'mclu und' n driving; nuirluiniuni tlnrefur compriil'ig :l turbine zugimn u rm'itziiiwr :irrnngecl tu receive th@ mitm in which the torpedo is hmmm-sed 0r on whirh it f'lufitfsl muil presm'urel fluid m2211115 opel-uml hy expansion uf gus; iljfiigrnil from :L snurcc ur reservoir lapt at cni'itinumis pres-- sur@ for forcing tlm water frnin the cnn minus through ihr, fuliggine;7 this Waiter after' Tuul-sing: through the murine hnini'f r l ministeri .n pluralityy uf mntuinnm urrung,

5. An, nutnlnnliiilu inri :11ml :fi il i'iinia.J i 'in re-- wirr the wntir in irliirli ihn tin ilu im# nu. sui-l ur un whirh it lilium, nml Iluiil infuusure moans opvriitml by eifq'unisimi uf mis (lurii'nd fronr il fr nr 'rrrsrruir lmptu ut continuous p' 'f1-mn tine nm'rtui thi.; angine waiter nftfr 'mssing' throniirh thu gijii' ing;r exhausted intu th@ Surruunrliiig; Miter in u roflrwuril ilirrnctiun. A i l (i. An uutfnnoliniln tnri'wiln :ruil :1 driving nmrlizii'iisln therr'llur rinnpriningg n turbinel enginv. n plurnlitmryY of nu tuinirru :irrungu'l'to revoir@ thu walter in Whwh tlwy izuri'miln inlnm sri] ur nn which it limiti-i` inni liuiil. prossiurr ini-:ins upm-uml hi' vxliiiuniun 01:' gun nninrntficl Forcing illu i 'utiar' in@ v i A ment u ilui'nrun il l ini nnuinz; nim mail frm n r1 winner :ifrun'i i ,1, ninna ihn n'.

hun"

il f

" lll ifi figur in n i i ii in ,fig nim ing? imhziur u rimrwu ril .in in nirrluuiii'nn :fuggi nn1 u iiin'iil,

Water in wi ich the topedo is immersed or on which it floats, into the container, and pressure fluid means operated by expansion of derived from a. source or reservoir kept at `continnous pressure for forcing the Water from the container through the engine, the Water after passing through the engine being eshausted into the surrounding Water in a mechanism therefor including a turbine en-` gine, a plurality of containers, means for forcing the water in which the torpedo is immersed or on which it floats, into said containers, and pressure fluid means operated by expansion of gas' derived from a source or reservoir kept at continuous pressure for forcing the Water from the containers through the engine, the water after passing I through the enUinc being exhaustedinto the lss surrounding Water in a rearward direction.

l5. An automobiletorpedo and a driving mechanism therefor comprising an engine, a container, means driven by the engine for forcing the Water in which the torpedo is mcrsed or on which it floats, into the container, and pressure fluid means operated by expansion of derived from a source or reservdir kept at continuous pressure for forcing the Water from .the container through the engine, the water after passing through the engine being exhausted into the surrounding Water in a rearward direction.

i6. An automobile torpedo and a driving mechanism therefor comprising a turbine engine, a container, means driven by the for forcing the Water in which the torpedo is'immersed, or on Which'it floats, into the container, and pressure fluid means operated by expansion of gas derived from a source orr reservoir 'Kept art continuous pres' sure for forcingthe Water from the container through ther-engine, Ithe Water after.

passing through the engine being exhausted vinto the surrounding Water in a rearward direction.

i?. An automobile torpedo and a driving mechanism therefor comprising an engine,

a plurality of containers, means driven by the engine for forcing the Water in which .'he torpedo is immersed or on which it ts, into `said containers, and pressure meansioperated by expansion of gas reinem which it floats, into .said containers, andi' pressure fluid means operated by expansion of gas derived from a source or reservoir kept at continuous pressure for forcing the water from the containers through the engine, the water after passing through' the engine being exhausted into the surrounding water in a rearward`V direction.

19. An automobile torpedo `or other vessel and a driving mechanism therefor comprising an engine, a container, means for filling the container with the water in which the vessel` is immersed or on which it floats, pressure fluid means for forcing the Water from the'container through the engine, and a float valve in the container for preventing the escape of the pressure fluid means with l the water.

20. An automobile torpedo or other vessel and a driving mechanism therefor comprising a turbine engine, ve container, meansfor filling the container with the Water in which the vessel is immersed or on which it floats, pressure fluid` means for forcing the Water from the container through the engine, and a float valve in the container for reventing the escape,` of the pressure flui means with the walten.

21. An automobile torpedo and a driving mechanism therefor comprising an engine, aplurality of. containers, means for filling the containers -wi'th the Water in which the vessel is immersed or on which it floats, pressure fluid means for forcing the Water from the containers through the engine, and float valves in the containers for .preventing the escape 'ofthe pressure fluid means with the Water.

22. An automobile torpedo or other vessel;`

and a driving mechanism therefor complrising a turbine engine, a. plurality of containers, means for filling the containers with the water inwhich the. vessel is immersed-*or on which it floats, pressure fluid means for forcing the water from the containers through the engine, and float j'valves in the containers for preventing. the escape of the pressure fluid means with the Water.

23. An automobile torpedo or'other vessel and a. drivingmechanism therefor com-k prising an engine, a container havin one` opening for both the admission en discharge of the water in Awhich the 'Vessel is immersed or. on which it floats, and aniso other opening for both the admission and exhaust of a pressure fluid means, said pressure fluid means serving to force the Water from the container through the engine-' Q4. An automobile torpedo or other vessel and a driving mechanism therefor comprising a turbine engine, a container having one opening forboth the admission and discharge of the wa-ter in which the vessel is immersed or on which it floats, and another opening for both the admission and exhaust of a pressure fluid means, said pressure fluid means serving to force the water from the container through the engine.

An automobile torpedo or other vessel. and a driving mechanism therefor comprising an engine, a container having one `opening for both the admission `and -discharge of the water in which the vessel is immersed or on which it floats, another opening for both the admission and exhaust of a pressure fluid means, said pressure fluid means serving to'v force the water from the container through the engine, and valve mechanisms operated by the engine for controlling the said water and pressure fluid openings.

26. An automobile torpedo or other vessel and a driving mechanism therefor comprising a turbine exigirle, a container having one (n )ening for both the admission and discharge of the Water in which the vessel is immersed or on which it floats, another opening for both the vadmission and exhaust of a pressure fluid means, said pressure fluid means serving to force the water from the container through the engine, and valve mechainsms operated by the engme for conv trolling the said water and pressure fluid openings.

27. An automobile torpedo or other vessel and a driving mechanism therefor comprising an engine, a plurality of containers each having an opening for both the admission and discharge of the water in which theI vessel is immersed o1.' on which it floats, another ,opening for both the adm1ss1on and exhaust of pressure fluid means, said pres- 'tainers each having an openin sure fluid means s arving to fo'ree the water from the container s through the en ine.

28. An automobile torpedo or ot er vesseland a driving nechanismtherefor comprising a turbine e ngine, a plurality of confor both the admission and lischarge of t e water in which the vessel is immersed or on which it floats, another ope ling for `both the admission and exhaust of. a pressure fluid means, said pressure fluid means serving to force the water from the containers through the engine. y

2S). An automobile torpedo o r other vessel anda driving mechanism therefor Comprising an engine, a plurality of containers each having an opening for both the admission and discharge of the water in which the vessel is immersed )ron which it floats, another opening for both the admission and exhaust of' a presso 'e fluid means, said pres-A sure fluid means se :ving to force the water from the containers through the engine, and valve mechanisms operated by the engine for controlling the said water and pressure fluid openings of tle several containers.

30. An automobile torpedo or other vessel and a driving mechanism therefor comprising a turbine engine, a plurality of containers each having an opening for both the admission and dis harge of the water in which the vessel is immersed or on which it floats, another opening for both the admission and exhaust ol a pressure fluid means, said pressure fluid means serving to force the water from the containers through the engine, `and valve mechanisms operated by the engine for con;rollin`g the said waterV and l'n'essure fluid )penings of the several containers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I lave signed my name in presence of two witnesses, thiseighteenth day of Ma-roh 1913.

FRANK W. DODD. Witnesses: i f

F. (leonor: Binky,

C. S. SUNDGIEN. 

